Daily Republican., 1887-05-12
CLAYTON.

OhA ~ we
uu pGsmory Assvsrsds His Charneeer
x.to,,ed aud His psrvicss Rsoslisd--
Cn,ef J usttcs Oomegys HIS Biogrspher.
uv.s 30 minutes past 8 O'Clock last
r,obt when DR.. 81. L. 6nitcher stepped
,n ,hs front OF the platform In the
Ooera d House and graosfully introd duoed
chief Justice ComeGys % the orator OF
ths evening. To the left Of the speaker,
IN q heavy gilt frame, was an oil paint.
INF OF John NJ. Clayton, the subject Of
the grafton.
On the stand were . couple Of
bonouets. In front was the most intelli
cent aud ience ever assembled IN the
Snildipe, and occupying the feats st
the rear we're Ex.Attorney General
Benjamin Harris Brewster, OF Pniiadel
phis; Senator Gray, Charles b. Lore,
ESQ, B. B OomeRye, OF PhilAdelPhia,
brother Of tho chief Justice; j Judaos John
W, Houston and John h. Paynter,
Governor Bsnj jAmin 7. Bisgs, Colonel
Benjamin Nields, Esq. Henry O. hob
inson, Joseph Pyle, Edward Betts. Job
Il. Jack son Rev. J. 8. Willis, ]. II
Hoffsc cker, Jr., Esq, Joshua T. Heald.
william Bush, George w. Bush, VIII
liam q. SpruAncs, Esq., John w. Dief.
epdorf, and Hon George p. Fisher.
The Chief Justice WAS the very impcr.
sonatiou Of dignity, and he wore .
spray OF lilies on the lApel Of his coat.
His oration occupied about two ho uss
In its delivery.
The Chief Justice said what had been
to him for long time Q very disbeart-
ening fact, is the apparent want OF In
terest on the part Of the present genera
tion OF men In the State In the life,
character and services Of the distin.
guishtd DelawareAns who are no longer
living. Such characters have been
heard OF by the most Intelligent per.
sons, but their characteristics, rs pri.
yate and official citisens, not much
more ID known than about strangers
living In another country, who have
done something to give their name
place In the universal index OF men
above mediocrity. Most persons In
Delaware, and . great many elsewhere,
have heard or read something ab0u,
John M. Clayton; but how he appeared
what manner OF man he was, what be
did for his nation and State, most Of
them are mainly Ignorant This Ia. q
very just but sad reprosch for the peo.
pie OF our State whose welfare he had
always at heart. the achievements oI
whose citizens In military service arc
In the public councils were ever upon
his lips, and whose renown "a tn,
mother and nourisher Of great men, hi
abilities and deeds did more 10 esta b
lish them than of any other of her chill
dren.
John M. Clayton was born on the 24tt
day Of July, 1706, at Ds2sborough, In
the County Of Sussex, where his father
james Clayton, . brother Of the frs
Governor under the constitution OF 1892
and uncle Of the first chief justice unde
the constitution Of 1881, presided. Al
soon as his age would allow young
Clay ton WAS taken by his father to Con
nectlcut and placed In o preparatory
school At Fairfield. He graduated from
Yale In 1916 with Highest honors. II,
entered the office Of his kinsman, Thos
Clayton, and afterwards attended tn
Law School at Litchheld, Connection,
he was admitted to the bar at George
town at the October term, 1918.
His career might have been that o.
distinguish IL, but for the failure Of hi
father who WAS wealthy man, OWN
to the financial crash which overtool
tha country previous TO tho re establ lish
ment Of the National Bank In 1916
This occurred while young Clayton wa
at college, but o relative furnished hin
with the means to continue his coursc
The Chief Justice then gave q de
tailed sketch Of Clay ton at college, hi
difficulties and bis triumphs, also tn
methods used In preparing case Il
| Court. He entered politics ss Fedel
alist In 1921. He arst took an acti '
part In politics as Federalist In 1891
He was strong opponent Of the spoil
system. He was clerk of both house
OF the Legislature. In the deacriptio
OF the FederaliBt party he allied hin
self with the Adams interest. II
worked zsalously for his reelection 1
1873, when Jackson WAS elected. II
soon became State leader of the VIII!
party, and while he guarded Its TO
tunes 1t never was defeated but ono,
In 1882, but the lost ground was moi
than recovered In the next campaign.
The Adams party having the LeRi
latuIe, Clayton was elected TO I'll
Senate Of the United States for 81
years from the 4th day of March, 1872!
he wsa very young man for such
place, but though less than 33 yea
. old, he soon showed that he meant
be man Of action.
The Chief Justice here gave an in TO
esling account of the part Clayton toe
In the postoffice investigation whic
brought out the memorable speeches
} Webster and Hayne; also how he tee
the matter Of protection IL hand al
carried II through to perfection aft
henry Olay was unequal for the task
In 1880 State Constitutional Co
Ivention had been voted for, and met
Dover on November 8, 1881. IL WI
composed Of 80 men, the most prom
hent OF whom were Judge VILLA
Hail, James Rogers, George Read, Ji
OF New Castle County, and John
clayton OF Kent. Tho latter was Il
G Youngest, but soon proved himself {
lequai OF the others, and their superl
irhuance with the conventio
mere were two particular grievanc
az that time-the constitution of t
courts and annual sessions Of the LIE
,siature. The present judicial syste
aimoSs wholly dua to Clayton, WI
II aieo secured the biennial session law
ine Ohief Justice here defended
length the present court system.
heierring to the Constitution "Key
q report he said:
HE WAS never char ged with haviI
|. SAID what 10 now a.days raked up out
n .ne rubbish Of the past, and in one fol
oior smother repeated, doubtless inI
et centiy, by orators of the present tin
.nat he locked the door of the Consti,
l. .lon and thrown the key away. ]
mao, not an idiot, would ever make
epeeoh like that, and no candid man
COCO sense repeats such q chsrae, {
vept ooubtingly.. Ofall things Clayt
was judge of human nature.
man OF sense even in his day seriout
Imputed any such phrase to him, W
Knew well enough that the way
tempt men to try to do n thing IA